Khami Ruins
Khami
A UNESCO World Heritage Site and the capital of the Torwa Kingdom from the 15th to 17th centuries, after the decline of Great Zimbabwe. Its dry-stone walls, decorated with checkerboard and herringbone patterns, are among the finest examples of stone architecture in Africa.
Khami Ruins lie about 22 km west of Bulawayo. It was the capital of the Torwa Kingdom, which rose after the decline of Great Zimbabwe and flourished roughly between 1450 and 1650. It was inscribed as a World Heritage Site in 1986 and is Zimbabwe’s second-largest stone-built site. On multi-tiered stone terraces built without mortar, the walls are decorated with checkerboard, herringbone and diagonal patterns. A royal palace once stood on the hillside of the site, and excavations have yielded Chinese Ming dynasty porcelain and European objects, showing its wide trade links. The ruins are spread across both banks of a river valley. A visit takes about 2 hours, and there is a small museum; admission must be paid. Visitors are few, so hiring a car is recommended, and be sure to protect yourself from the sun.
Opening hours
Daily approx. 08:00–17:00
Nearby sights
- Bulawayo Railway Museum
- National Gallery of Zimbabwe in Bulawayo
- Bulawayo City Hall & City Centre
- Tshabalala Wildlife Sanctuary
- Natural History Museum of Zimbabwe
- Cyrene Mission
- Old Bulawayo
- Chipangali Wildlife Orphanage